Machine for removing slag, ash, or other residue from the retorts of zinc-furnaces.



Sept. 1, 1914. ETs-SHEB KEITHIRESIDUB FROM THE BETORTS 0 THEE G ASH, 0R 0 momma FOR REMOVING ZINOFURNAGES' 911 APPLICATION FILED FEB-14' 1 Pa vllrllirzr 1,

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, E. W. KEITH. MACHINE FOR REMOVING SLAG, ASH, OR OTHER RESIDUE FROM THE RETORTS 0P ZINC FURNACES.

APPLICATION FILED 513.14, 1911.

Patent ed Sept. 1, 1914.

2 BHBETSBHEET 2.

j qg. 2.

MACHINE FOR REMOVING SLAG,

PATENT OFFICE.

W. KEITH, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

ASH, OR OTHER RESIDUE FROM THE RETORTS OF Application filed February 14-, 1911.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1, 1914. Serial No. 608,619.

T 0 (ill whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, EDWARD \V. KnrrH, a

citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented anew and useful Machine for Removing Slag, Ash, or other Residue from the Retorts of Zinc-Furnaces of which the following is a specification. i

This invention relates to machines for cleaning and removing the slag, ash, or other residue from retorts of zinc or analogous smelting or distilling furnaces. My invention is for the purpose of keeping the retort to its norma size or gage, in order to allow the retort to be recharged with suitable mixtures of ore, coal, or coke, or both, with coal tar or other suitable binding material added, and pressed or otherwise formed into a suitable mass or cartridge that will fit the gage of the retort.

The object of the invention is to provide more practical and efiective means-0f accomplishing this result than the present method of blowing out the letol'ts by steam or drawing them by hand, and to this end I provide an electric motor suspended from a trolley and counterbalanced so as to be adjusted vertically relatively to the lines of retorts, said motor having a shaft adapted to receive one end of a drill shank, the opposite end of which is provided with suitable cutting blades of slightly less width than the interior diameter of the retorts. Further,'to provide an adjustably suspended coanterbalanced motor, the shaft of which is formed with an axial channel or passage, one end. of said shaft being adapted to receive a hollow drill shank, while the opposite end of the shaft is adapted to receive water through the medium of an inlet cap removably secured to the adjacent hub of the motor and connected with av water or steanr provided with a shield having glazed peep holes whereby the attendant is protected from the heat and from flying fragments removed by the drill and at the samc time enabled to inspect the work, said machine effecting an increase of capacity and higher recoveries by shortening the time of drawing and charging, and consequently giving more time for distillation. These objects are accomplished by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

supply, said motor being or steam Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the arrangement of the improved machine, and the manner of its op eration in removing slag or other-residue from retorts, a plurality of which are shown in section. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view through a motor shaft constructed in accordance with my invention, the motor being shown in dotted lines, with the exception of its rear hub, which receives a counterbalance and a water or steam inlet cap, a. drill shank being secured in the forward end of the shaft. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the forward portion of the drill shank and spirally twisted cutting blades. Fig. t is an end view of the same. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the forward portion of the drill shank showing one of the grooves which receives one of the cutting blades. Fig. 6 is a. side view of one of the cutting or drill blades before being given a one-quarter twist. Fig. 7 is a face view of the counterbalance for maintaining the horizontal equilibrium of the motor. Fig. 8 is a" view looking toward the interior of the water or steam inlet cap. Fig. 9 is a front view of a portion of a motor, showing a longitudinally adjustableblock thereon for receiving the usual suspending screw eye. Fig. 10 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view thereof; and Fig. 11 is a front view, on a. reduced scale, of ashield used in operating the machine. i

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 indicates an electric motor which may be of any preferred type in gencral use. but which is preferably of small diameter and arranged to receive a lone armature or rotor, thereby to better balance the weight of the drill, to be hereinafter de' scribed. The motor is provided with the usual screw eye by which it may be lifted or suspended, and this screw eye is preferably secured on one side of the vertical axis of the motor, by which the preponderance of its weight is shifted toward its rear end to compensate for the weight of the drill which projects from its for and end. The motor frame is closed at its ends with shields or caps 3 and 4', which are provided with hubs 5 and 6 of preferably greater length than are usually employed, in order to afford an extra long bearing for the shaft, and the rear hub 6 is threaded throughout its length, as shown. Upon this hub is mounted a counterbalance 7 in the form of a disk or ring of suitable weight, having a threaded axial hole through wlnch the hub passes, and by properly adjusting this countcrbalancethe motor may be maintained on a horizontal plane. Upon the end of this threaded hub 6 is screwed a cap 8, which is provided interiorly, about centrally of its length, with an annular shoulder 9, which may abut directly against the end of the threaded hub, but a rubber or other suitable packing ring 10 is preferably interposed between this shoulder and the end of the hub to insure a water or steam tight connection between the cap and hub. The construction of the cap provides a water or steam chamber 11 between the ends of the hub and cap, and an axial inlet hole 12 is formed in the end of the cap and through a threaded nipple 13 on the said end of the cap. This nipple is adapted to receive one end of an ordinary water or steam controlling valve 14, to the opposite end of which is attached a hose 15, which connects 'with a suitable water or steam supply.

The motor shaft 16 is connected with the rotor in the usual manner, and as the rotor and other interior mechanism of the motor, aside from the shaft, form no part of my i11- vention, description of them is unnecessary, the rotor being indicated in dotted lines,

Fig. 2, as shown by 17, as is also the stator core 18.

,The rear end of the motor shaft is flush with the end of the hub 6, which is babbitted, as shown at 19, and the portion of the shaft within this hub is provided with a plurality of packing rings 20. The forward end of the shaft extends a short distance beyond the end of the forward hub 5, and the terminal portion of the shaft is externally threaded, as shown at 21. The forward portion of the shaft is formed with a bore 22. of a diameter corresponding to that of the drill shank 23, which is adapted to be inserted therein. This bore extends into the shaft far enough to afford adequate support for the drill shaft and terminates in a shoulder or seat 24, from which point an axial channel 25 extends through to the rear end of the shaft. A

rubber or other suitable ring 26 is placed in the bore 22 so as to rest against the shoulder 24:, and the rear end of the drill shank 23 is then inserted in. the said bore 22 so as to abut against the resilient ring 26.

The drill shank is provided with a collar 27, which is rigidly secured thereon in any suitable manner, and this collar, when the drill is inserted in the shaft against the ring 26, stands adjacent to the end of the shaft, as shown in Fig. 2, and upon the shank, forward of the collar, is loosely mounted a nut 28, the forward portion of which is internally threaded to engage the threaded end of the motor shaft. At the junction of the threaded portion of this nut and the portion which slides upon the drill shank a shoulder 29 is formed, which is adapted to engage the collar 27, and when the nut is screwed upon the end of the shaft it draws upon the collar and jams the rear end of the drill against the ring 26. The ring 26 not only prevents the escape of water or steam around the drill shank, but permits the nut 28 to more securely clamp and hold the shank within the shaft than would be the case if the end of the shank abutted against an unyielding surface.

A water or steam channel 30 extends through the drill shank from end to end, and the forward end of the shank is provided with drilling blades 31. These blades are made of any suitable metal but preferably of sheet steel, and are substantially of the form shown in Fig. (3 when out from the metal. One or two or more of these blades constitute a drill, and each blade is given a suitable operative or spiral turn, a quarter twist being preferably shown in the drawings, as will be understood by reference to F ig. t, so that their rear ends stand at right angles to their front or cutting ends. The forward end of the'drill shank is provided with two oppositely arranged grooves 32, of the same length as the blades, each of the circumference of the drill shank, as

shown in Fig. 5, and after the blades are given the required twist they are placed in the said grooves and secured therein by welding or in any other suitable manner.

As shown in Fig. 1, the retorts 33 are arranged in tiers Within thewall of the furnace, and those in each tier or line are spaced from one another and from those in the adjoining tiers in such a manner as to permit the great portion of the surface of each retort to be subjected to the heat of the furnace, and the retorts are set at a slight incline, as shown, the open ends of the retorts being closed during the period of smelting by the usual condensers made of fire clay.

In zinc furnaces the retorts are usually about four feet long, with an interior diameter of eight inches, and therefore the drill shanks should be of slightly greater length than the retorts, While the extreme width of the cutting blades should be about one-half of an inch less than the interior. diameter of the retorts to afford a sufficient clearance.

The motor is suspended from the cage 37 by either one or two rods. In the drawings I have illustrated two rods 35 and 36. The rod 35 could be dispensed with, if desired, and the rod 36 extended to the eye 2 of the motor, and the upper end of this rod 35, when used, is linked to the end of the rod 36, which extends into a cylindrical cage-or housing 37, which sppports a coiled expanshifted by the attendant.

sion spring 38. The rod 36 extends through this spring and through a disk 39 adapted to rest upon the top of the spring and is held by a nut 40, which is screwed upon its end and bears upon the disk 39. The opposite ends of the cage are closed by threaded caps 41, and to the upper cap is secured, in any suitable way, one end of a flexible connection, preferably a wire rope d2, which passes over the trolley 34 and has secured to its opposite end a weight 43, which is adapted to counterbalance the weight of the motor and parts connected therewith, so that the motor may be raised or lowered to the level of a line of retort-s and will be held at this level by the counterbalance until The pulley 3-1: should be hung as high above the operative drilling positions of the drill as is possible in order to make the arc of the operative forward drilling swinging movement of the drill as flat as possible, so that the tilting movement to be given the drill by the operator when drilling out' a retort will be. reduced to as flat a cord of an are as is ossible. The spring 38 enables the atten ant to adj ust or guide the drill with the'greatest accuracy, as by pressing upon or lifting the motor the same may be raised or lowered slightly without changing the positioi of the counterbalance 43, thus insuring such control of the drill as to prevent cutting of the surface of the retorts, even when they have become slightly warped or twisted.

The trolley should be mounted upon a track running parallel with the line of retorts, so that the motor may be moved to any required position along the said line. The trolley support is not illustrated, as it forms no part of the present invention and may be arranged to meet requirements.

For the protection of the attendant, ashield 44 is supported upon the forward hub 5 of the motor and is held thereon. in any suitable manner, preferably by bracket arms 45, which are bolted to the shield and to the motor casing. This shield is rectangular and of sufficient size to protect the attendant from heat and from the flying particles cut from the rctorts while they are being drilled out. They are preferably made of asbestos with a sheet metal backing, and are provided with one or more peep holes 46 supplied with mica or glass.

The motor is provided with lnindles M, by which it can be manipulated to properly guide the drill, and the motor current wires may becomiected to any suitable controlling mechanism operated by a lever or push button and adjacent to one of the handles 47, by which the operator may shut oh the current or turn it on at will. Such an arrangement is indicated at 48, in Fig. 1.

In Figs. 9 and 10 is shown an additional means for establishing and maintaining the equilibrium of the motor. In this construction, the motor casing is formed with a longitudinally arranged projection 49 extending from its forward end to about its center, which is provided with a guide groove 50, having converging sides. A slide block 51 is placed in this groove and is adapted to be moved either toward or away from the center of the motor, and is held at the desired point by a set screw 52. The block 51' carries a screw eye 53, to which is connected the supporting means. This arrangement may be used in connection with the counterbalance 7 or one or the other may be dispensed with.

As a cooling and expelling agent, air under pressure may be used, instead of water or steam, if necessary, as the machine is adapted either for air, water or steam.

In operation, the machine is suspended from a trolley, as above described, and the counterbalance 7 is adjusted to cause the motor and drill to lie in a horizontal plane.

The motor is then raised or lowered to bring the drill point on a level with the line of retorts to be cleaned, and the attendant, after turning on the current and water or steam supply, guides the drill into the retort. The water if used coming in contact with the intense heat in the retort is instantaneously converted into steam, and not only prevents the slag or ash, which is of astioky or ummy consistency, from adhering to the drill, but its expulsive force in conjunction with the fanning out action of the drill causes the disintegrated particles to be ejected from the retort. The spring 38 permits of a delicate adjustment of the motor and drill, and the shield protects the attendant, while the peep holes therein enable him to inspect the work. The motor is run at a high rate of speed andthe operation of drilling out a retort is not only far more quickly accomplished than by the means at present employed, but the retorts can be kept to gage,

which would add considerably to their ca pacity and life.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine as specified, the combination of an electric motor having a shaft supported in hubs and provided witlr a drillreceiving bore in its forward end and an axial passage extending from said. bore to the opposite end of the shaft, a cap on the rear hub of the motor having a chamber communicating with and providing an unrestricted inlet to the axial passage in the shaft, and a valved hose connected to said cap.

2. In a machine as specified, the combination of an electric motor having a shaft guppcn'lecl in hnhs and provided with a drilli'eceiving here at one end and an axial passage extending from said bore to theopposile end of the shaft. a ("up on one hub of said motor and having a chamber cmninnnicating with and providing an unrestricted inletto the axial passage in the shaft, abut-0H valve connected to said cap, and a ho e connected to said cal-off valve. i

ln a machine as specified, an electric motor having a shaft supported in hubs and provided Willi a drill-receiving bore at one end and an axial passage extending from the bore L0 the opposite end of the shaft, a cap on one hub of ihc motor and having a cl1a1nber communicating with and. providing an nn'resn'icied inlet, to the axial pimsage in the 1 he H. and a valved hose connected with said clap. l "i. In a machine as specified, an elecl'i'ic g motor having a shaft supported in hubs and 1 provided with an axial passage and a bore in its forward end, a hollow coupling on one huh of Lhe motor cennnnnicacing with and providing an uniesti'icled inlet to the passage in the shaft, a valved hose conneclcd to the said. coupling, and a shield carried by said. motor and having peep-hides therein.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD \V. KELTH.

\Vitnesses G. SARGENT ELLIOTT, AnncLA M. Fownn. 

